Mail and parcel tube



June 10, 1930. J, A FLUELLEN 1,763,393

MAIL AND PARCEL 'TUBE Filed July 1l, 1928 Patented June 10, 1930 Unirse JOHN A. FL'UELLEN, OF PLYMUUTI-I, WEST VTRGINIA MAIL AND resent. TUBE Application filed J'uly 11; 1928. Serial No. 291,769.

This invention relates to certain improvements in mail and parcel tubes and pertains especially to making the device cheap whereby it is adapted to be used in parcel post 5 packages and also to be used as convenient packages for transporting articles, etc.

The primary object of the present improvement is to make a device that comprises simply a rectangular sheet of relatively stiit le material that is specially constructed to enable it to be Wrapped in a tube and receive a securing means such for instance as twine or rubber, the securing means being held in position on the tube so that it can not slip l5 whereby the contents are permanently held within the said tube.

A further object of thepresent invention is the provision of a suitable attachable and detachablecover for the ends of the tube 20 when the same are to be used.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view showing the sheet rolled into a tube and containing the matter to be mailed or transported.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the de vice with the detachable ends for the tube omitted.

Figure 3 is a central transverse sectional view through the left-hand end of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a detached view ot the sheet out of which the tube is to be rolled.

Figure 5 is a detached plan view of the blank from which the attachable ends for the tube are constructed.

This invention has particularly in mind the simplicity of the construction and the cheapness of the construction.

By referring to Figure 4 Which shows a plan view or" the blank out of which the par- 40 cel tube is formed, l is the blank which is rectangular in form. Opposite edges or" the blank are provided with a plurality ot short slots 2 which extend slightly inward trom the margin of the blank. It will be observed 45 that these slots extend to the outer edges of the blank thus forming open outer ended slots. Preferably the inner ends of the slots are formed with circular shaped ends 8 which are especially adapted to receive a 5e: cord or other fastening means.

These blanks are furnished to merchants` or others who have occasion to roll the blanks inte a tube, placing therein the contents to` be transmitted either through the mails or by the person purchasing the package. This blank is made of suitable material 'having suticient stiffness so that it can be readily formed into a tube by bringing its ends 4 into overlapping position as shown in Figures l and 2. The matter to be contained in` the tube is lirst placed on the said blank and the blank rolled with its edges 4 brought to overlapping` 'position which will bring the slots 2 at opposite ends in alignment with each other, the blank being formed into the tube with the contents, then a securing means such for instance as cord or elastic 5 is passed longitudinal the said tube and this means passes through the registering slots2, one or more times and the ends then crossed as shown at 6 with their extremities 7 tied together.

Preferably in this arrangement the cord is placed on the sheet 4 and the article or thing to be enclosed in the tube then placed on the cord after which the blank is wrapped around the contents until the slots 2 at the ends register. When the cord is placed on the sheet before the sheet is ormedin a tube then the cord is passed through the slots 2 in the same manner indicated in Figures l, 2 and 3, in which event the cord is shown at the inner side of the tube as at 6, and the cord passes across the open ends 7 of the tube as shown at S. Whether the cord be placed within the tube or not it passes across the ends of the tube shown at 8 and the cord thus serves to hold the material in the tube. The cord may be passed back and forth lon-V gitudinal of the tube and in the slots 2 more than once if it is desired and then its ends crossed at 6 and tied at 7.

The principal object in forming a greater number of slots in the sheetthan those near the ends is to enable the cord to be passed through them if desired and across the opening 7, thus securing the contents of the tube more securely therein.

When it is desired to protect the contents of the tube at the ends paper may be stuffed in between the cross cords 8 and the contents as will be readily understood. Also if the contents are of sufficient value to need tol be more securely protected then I provide an end 8 that has flaps 9 that will be bent and placed within the open end of the tube, thus forming a holding means for the contents and loose paper may be packed between the ends 8 and the contents of the tube.

In this instance the cord maybe passed outside of the ends 8 as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the cord passing through'slots 10 formed in the end 8..

In some instances the flaps 9 ofthe ends 8 may be glued in the ends of the tube but such construction would only be necessary where the contents were to be substantially sealed from exterior interference.

The idea of this invention is to produce a tubular package that is formed from a single sheet, the person having use for the invention has a plurality of sheets and the cord or other securing means may be obtained anywhere the user desires, making itnecessary only to. purchase the blanks as shown in Figure 4. When the attachable ends 8 are to be used it will of course be necessary to also purchase them. V

While the tube is not especially constructed to be adjustable to dierent sizes of tubes, nevertheless it is adapted to be adjusted for smaller tubes should there be occasion to use them for that purpose, and in that event the plurality of openings 3 will serve to register with each other to receive the said fastening means. By having the slots with their outer ends open and in alignment not only enables ordinary cord to be passed in these openings but an 'endless elastic member can be also applied tothe package just the same to hold it in its closed position, and the cord 8 may be passed through as many registering openings as occasion may require so that in that event the'cord will form a cross in the said opening and thus more securely serve to hold the said package in tubular form and hold the contents within it.

-When desired the caps 8 may be secured in the ends of the tube by means of paper tape 1l that is provided with the usual glue, the tape being glued to the cap and its ends also glued to the ends of the tubes.

Having thus described my invention what I claim anddesire to secure by Letters Patent 1s:

l. A mailing tube comprising a sheet having at its opposite ends a plurality of longitudinally inwardly extending openings, said sheet rolled into a tube bringing said openings in alignment, and a flexible fastening member extending longitudinal the tube and through the said openings and across its open end whereby the tube is secured and its oontents held therein.

2. A mailing tube comprising a sheet having a plurality of longitudinally and inwardly extending openings with outer open ends, said sheet rolled together and caused to overlap to bring said openings in alignment, and

va flexible member extending longitudinally on its outer side through the aligning openings and across the open ends of the tube whereby the tube is held in its rolled shape and its contents held therein.

8. A mailing tube madel of a rectangular sheet having in opposite edges longitudinally and inwardly extending openings with open outer ends, said openings being located in a line drawn across the said sheet, the sheet rolled into tubular overlapping form bringing the said openings in alignment and a flexible securing member extending longitudinally on the outer side of the tube through the said openings andacross its open ends, the ends of the flexible member passing around the outer side of the tube substantially at its middle portion and tied, the parts operating for the purpose specified.

4. A mailing tube made up of a rectangular sheet having in its opposite edges longitudinally and inwardly extending openings located in a line with each other across the said sheet, whereby when the sheet is formed into a tube the said openings can be caused to register, a closure for the ends of the tube consisting of a disc having inwardly extending ears, the disc and ears placed within the tube beyond the said openings and a ilexible member extending longitudinally the tube through the registering Y longitudinal openings across its open ends beyond the said disc, the said flexible member having its ends united, the parts operating for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afix my signature.

JOHN A. FLUELLEN. 

